United News of Bangladesh

BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday warned party leaders and activists against sacrificing their long political struggle for personal benefits such as fertiliser dealership and government contracts, saying the party must maintain public confidence through tolerance and responsible conduct. “If we sell out our long political struggle to obtain fertiliser dealerships and contracts, we will not be able to achieve anything significant. We will fail to secure our greater goals. General people, who are the voters, should see that BNP leaders and activists are extremely tolerant,” he said. Rizvi made the remarks while addressing a commemorative meeting marking the 10th death anniversary of former minister and BNP National Standing Committee member Brig Gen (retd) A S M Hannan Shah. He said BNP leaders and activists should not remain preoccupied with what they gained or failed to gain personally, but should instead focus on the broader responsibilities of the party and government. “After 17 years of hardship, we have secured a BNP government through a free and fair election under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He is working day and night to make the country prosperous,” Rizvi said. Despite the difficulties, the government is trying to provide relief to people and meet their essential needs, Rizvi said. He said industrial mills and factories have been at risk of shutting down amid the gas and electricity shortages, but the situation was gradually improving under Tarique Rahman's leadership. “By the grace of Allah, we are gradually getting these services back in many places. Gas stoves in our kitchens are burning again. I believe the situation will gradually return to normal in the coming days,” he said. Rizvi said every party leader and activist should consider themselves part of the government, regardless of the positions they had received. “What matters is that the government maintains a good image and continues to run the country with sincerity. We must all cooperate in this effort,” he said. He urged MPs to maintain peace and stability in their respective constituencies and asked party leaders and activists to support them. He also called on lawmakers to stand beside people in both good times and difficult situations.“We have all been involved in politics. We did not enter politics to become wealthy overnight.” Rizvi said BNP leaders and activists are not behaving like those who are involved in what he described as the fascist rule of the past. He alleged that during the previous regime, those in power looted public money, occupied people's land and even took cattle from cowsheds and fish from ponds, plunging the country into disorder to establish a system of plunder. “The BNP will not repeat those practices. The party has no such commitment. The BNP stands for peace, stability and the rule of law,” he said. He stressed that even grassroots-level party workers are part of the government and must act with restraint to preserve peace and stability. Rizvi said various conspiracies and attempts to create instability are continuing, adding that police have arrested two retired army officers on Sunday over suspected plans for sabotage. He urged party leaders and activists to remain alert, particularly ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja. He said party leaders and activists should voluntarily perform these duties on a voluntary basis, without waiting for specific instructions. “If we understand our responsibilities and work accordingly, the people of this country will continue to support the nationalist forces,” he said, warning party members to ensure that their conduct never resembled that of activists of the previous regime. Rizvi concluded this part of his speech by praying for the eternal peace of the late Hannan Shah. The event was attended by BNP Gazipur district president Fazlul Haque Milan, BNP National Executive Committee Organising Secretary for Dhaka Division Saiful Haque Bablu, Hannan Shah's son and BNP leader Reazul Hannan, former central Chhatra Dal leaders and BNP lawmakers.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday has formed a 12-member monitoring committee ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community. BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon has been made convener of the committee, while another Joint Secretary General of the party, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, has been named its member secretary. The names of the committee members were announced in a press release signed by BNP Assistant Office Secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain on night. The other members of the committee are BNP National Executive Committee Assistant Organising Secretary Jayanta Kumar Kundu, Assistant Secretary for Marginalised People Development Aparna Roy Das, Assistant Secretaries for Religious Affairs Amalendu Das Apu and John Gomes, and National Executive Committee members Advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury and Ramesh Dutta. The committee also includes Jubo Dal central committee Labour Affairs Secretary Partha Dey Mondal, former Vice-President of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Joydeb Roy, former student leader Milton Baidya, and Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, president of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday called for an end to the “mafia rule” in the road transport sector, saying longstanding extortion, syndicates and irregularities must be eliminated to restore discipline and ensure a comfortable environment for ordinary people. Rizvi made the remarks at a tribute programme organised by the newly formed committee of the Jatiya Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation at the graves of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman and former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Rizvi said he hoped the new federation would remain active and vocal in putting an end to the longstanding anarchy and illegal extortion on the roads. The BNP leader expressed confidence that the new federation leadership would use fresh ideas and approaches, drawing on its members’ backgrounds in student politics, to address longstanding disorder in the road transport sector, bring activities within the bounds of law and make a significant contribution to passenger services. He said the leaders has taken on the responsibility with a commitment to improving the sector, He said responsible performance in one sector could positively influence other sectors, encouraging them to improve through healthy competition. Rizvi expressed hope that the new federation leadership would help replace the deteriorated road transport management that had developed during what he described as fascist rule with a new system that would strengthen public trust and make people feel safer and more comfortable while travelling.

Nahid Islam, opposition Chief Whip and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said on Saturday said BNP, since coming to power, has been curbing people's rights and undermining democracy. Those who have destroyed democracy in the past have ultimately ended up in "the dustbin of history," Nahid said while addressing the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-to-Rangpur long march at the capital's Manik Mia Avenue. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman must now decide the manner in which he steps down from power, under pressure or through a dignified process. "Tarique Rahman has to decide now whether he will flee by helicopter or hand over power through a dignified process," he said. Nahid said the government passed an enforced disappearance law and a human rights law in the last parliamentary session, and that RAB had been renamed SRB. While protecting human rights is the government's responsibility, he alleged the current government is instead creating condition conducive to rights violations across the board. He further alleged that the incumbent government has begun using the same laws and institutions that Sheikh Hasina's administration had used to suppress people's rights. Noting that a wave of public support has built up behind the long march, Nahid Islam alleged that banners and festoons of the 11-party alliance have been torn down along the march route since Friday night, claiming BNP leaders and activists carried this out with the involvement of the city corporation. Tearing down banners and festoons will not stop the tide of public support for the long march, he said, adding that the opposition's list of demands keeps growing but will ultimately converge into a single demand, called on 11-party alliance leaders and activists to prepare accordingly.

A free medical camp was inaugurated at Naya Paltan in the capital on Tuesday marking the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi inaugurated the medical camp on  the ground floor of the party’s central office in Naya Paltan around noon. People from different age groups received medical services at the camp. Physicians examined patients, provided necessary health advice and distributed various medicines free of cost. BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, among other leaders and activists of different levels of the party, physicians and volunteers, were present at the event.

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday paid homage to slain party founder Ziaur Rahman and its former chairperson Khaleda Zia by placing a wreath at their graves marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary. Tarique, also the eldest son of Zia and Khaleda, flanked by party senior leaders, placed the wreath at his parents’ graves at She r-e-Bangla Nagar around 9:20am and offered fateha there. They also offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the party’s founder and former chairperson. BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Aman Ullah Aman, Farhad Halim Donar and Ismail Zabihullah, Vice Chairman Nurul Islam Moni, Joint Secretaries General Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee and Syed Emran Saleh Prince, Abdus Salam Azad, Treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and Dhaka North city unit president Aminul Haque, among others, present. After Tarique left the grave premises and security restrictions were eased, a large number of BNP leaders, activists and supporters gathered there. They chanted slogans such as “Shubho, Shubho, Shubho Din, BNP-r Jonmodin” and “Ek Zia Lokantore, Lokkho Zia Ghore Ghore”. Leaders and activists of different BNP-affiliated organisations including that of Dhaka city units, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Krishak Dal, Mohila Dal, Tanti Dal, Matsyajibi Dal, Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), Agriculturalists Association of Bangladesh (AAB), Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) and Chhatra Dal, also paid homage at Ziaur Rahman’s grave.

The BNP is set to celebrate its 48th founding anniversary on Tuesday with various programmes. On September 1, 1978, late President Ziaur Rahman founded the party with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. The party has announced a five-day central programme to mark its founding anniversary. The anniversary programmes will begin with the hoisting of the party flag at 6:00am at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the chairman’s office in Gulshan and party offices across the country. Later in the morning, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, along with members of the party’s Standing Committee, will place wreaths and offer Fateha at the graves of party founder Ziaur Rahman and former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said all preparations have been completed to celebrate the founding anniversary with due respect. “The five-day central programme will begin with placing wreaths and paying tribute at the graves of the party’s founder, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, and Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said. Rizvi said BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will pay tribute at the graves along with the members of the party’s Standing Committee. The party will also organise a central discussion, while district, metropolitan and upazila units will arrange separate programmes. BNP and its associate bodies will also organise tree plantation and fish release programmes as part of the anniversary celebrations. The party and its associate organisations have published posters marking the anniversary, while special supplements will also be published by different newspapers. Rizvi said BNP’s district and metropolitan units and their affiliated organisations will observe the day through separate discussions and other programmes. Tarique Rahman and Rizvi, in separate messages, congratulated the people of Bangladesh, party leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers on the occasion. Ziaur Rahman founded BNP after forming the Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal (Jagdal) and the Jatiyatabadi Front. BNP was formally launched at the Ramna Restaurant in Dhaka on September 1, 1978. Following the formation of BNP, several political groups, including Jagdal, the NAP led by Mashiur Rahman Jadu Mia, United People’s Party led by Abdul Halim-Akbar Hossain, Labour Party led by Abdul Matin and Muslim League led by Shah Azizur Rahman, merged into the new party. Ziaur Rahman led BNP as its chairman, followed by Khaleda Zia and subsequently Tarique Rahman.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday praised law enforcement agencies for swiftly arresting the accused following the murder a teacher and his family in Rangpur and called for identifying and dismantling the secret hideouts of all criminal syndicates across the country. “People want to live peacefully and earn their livelihood. No matter how powerful a drug user or a criminal syndicate may be, they must be brought under the law and their trial must be ensured,” he said. Rizvi was speaking at a discussion and doa mahfil organised in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan on Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi. He called for establishing a just society and ensuring the rule of law in the country by following the path of peace shown by Prophet Muhammad. He said the government formed after a free and fair election is committed to ensuring accountability to the people in every sphere. “Members of the Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman are continuously remaining accountable to grassroots leaders and activists, the media and Parliament, which ultimately means accountability to the ordinary people of the country,” he said. Speaking about the country’s law and order situation and recent incidents, Rizvi said the Home Minister has a huge responsibility in ensuring public safety. Rizvi said the overall environment is not worse than before, but further improvement is needed. He expressed hope that under the Home Minister’s leadership all criminals would be brought under the law and tried. Islamic scholars and religious experts  along with leaders and activists from different levels of the BNP, attended the programme. A special doa was later offered seeking the welfare and prosperity of the country and its people. BNP Standing Committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Chairman’s Adviser and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Abdus Salam, Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Abdus Salam Azad, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations were present at the event.

Four newly appointed members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) highest policymaking body, the National Standing Committee, on Tuesday paid tribute at the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. They placed floral wreaths at the graves beside the National Parliament complex in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital in the morning. The four new members of the National Standing Committee are Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Md Amanullah Aman, Dr Farhad Halim Doner and Md Ismail Zabiullah. After paying tribute, a special prayer was offered seeking the forgiveness of the souls of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Leaders and activists of different BNP-affiliated organisations were also present.      

Speculation over the BNP’s presidential nominee will end on Thursday, as its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to meet the party’s Standing Committee members to make the final decision, with nomination papers for the presidential election scheduled to be submitted from 10am to 4pm that day. Several BNP leaders said the party’s candidate will be known after the meeting, scheduled for 12 noon, just hours before the nomination deadline expires at 4pm. They, however, indicated that BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is likely to get the ruling party’s nomination for the presidency. The BNP’s formal announcement may come around 12:30pm after the Standing Committee meeting, they said. Earlier on August 10, the BNP Standing Committee entrusted its Chairman Tarique Rahman with the responsibility of nominating the party’s candidate for the presidential election. Since then, speculation has intensified that Mirza Fakhrul would be the BNP nominee for the country’s top constitutional post. A Standing Committee member said, “The name of the person who will be the presidential candidate will be known at the meeting with the chairman on Thursday.” He said the prospective candidate’s signature will be obtained at the meeting and a delegation will then be sent to the Election Commission for submitting the nomination paper along with the signatures of the proposer and seconder. Meanwhile, the 11-party opposition alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has named Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmad as its candidate for the presidential election. Both the ruling and opposition camps have collected nomination papers for their respective aspirants. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the returning officer for the presidential election, has already convened a meeting of MPs at the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on August 20 for voting in accordance with the Presidential Election Act, 1991. According to the election schedule announced by the EC on August 6, nomination papers will be scrutinised on August 16, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 18. Voting will take place from 2pm to 5pm on August 20 at the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad. A total of 349 MPs are eligible to vote in the presidential election, with the Chattogram-4 parliamentary seat currently vacant. This will be the first presidential election in 35 years involving more than one candidate, making it the first contested presidential election since the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991. On July 24, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President, following which Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed charge as acting President. Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacant presidential office must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.